Soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf has died, aged ninety.
The Times has an obituary.
James Inverne, editor of Gramophone, the music magazine, said: “Elisabeth was the diva’s diva. She had the kind of glamour that was associated with stars of the silver screen, and a voice that most people interpreted as having that old- fashioned aristocratic touch.” Inverne pointed to her singing of the Marschallin, in Der Rosenkavalier, as a classic. “She had one of the most sheerly beautiful voices any soprano could be blessed with.”
I'll be playing my own two favourite Schwarzkopf recordings later today: Richard Strauss's '
Four Last Songs,' which she sings beautifully, and a delightful recording of '
Operetta Arias.' The 'Nun's Chorus' on this last is just astonishing.
Farewell Elisabeth.
TAGS: Music, Obituary
No comments:
Post a Comment
We welcome thoughtful disagreement.
But we do (ir)regularly moderate comments -- and we *will* delete any with insulting or abusive language. Or if they're just inane or off topic. It’s okay to disagree, but pretend you’re having a drink in the living room with the person you’re disagreeing with. This includes me.
PS: Have the honesty and courage to use your real name. That gives added weight to any opinion.